[This is what they get for showing any prudence to a baby.
Does he really want to pilfer a used toothbrush? In any case, it is a nice, clean, boring bathroom. He can wash his face if he likes. Waste more of Death's time if he feels like it. Whatever.]
The fact that it's so ordinary in here is kind of unsettling in its own way, so he'll do his business, wash up, and carefully open the door just enough to peer out into the hallway. Is the coast clear... what's the rest of this building look like? ]
[It's honestly a very normal-looking inn from the one hallway he gets to observe before Will cheerfully and quickly ushers him out. It's surprisingly clean and functional and a hair more modern. No building tours today, alas!!
Death is around, having been left to their own devices long enough that they're sitting and reading a book, cane propped off to the side. They glance up briefly.]
Sorry our accommodations are nicer. Perks of the job, I suppose.
You guys have got your work cut out for you, playing babysitter! And it'll be even harder all the way out here. Why don't you come hang out with everybody more? They're so skittish and untrusting, your presence would be reassuring.
Mm... [ he doesn't want to say it, because it's supposed to be a ~*~*government secret*~*~ but it's fine if he tells Death, right? if Death talks about it, Karma will just have to kill them. ]
He's a large, yellow... tentacled lifeform, who always wears a large grin on his face. Korosensei. The ones trying to kill him wore hooded white robes, just like yours.
Oh. Interesting. [This is strange, but not completely mindblowingly unusual to them, apparently.] No, I think we would've noticed someone like that. Do you think cultists were the ones trying to kill him?
[ He shrugs, because he doesn't know much about that white robed organization, and that's part of the problem. ]
Maybe. The robes and the flowers seem too much of a coincidence, but the strategy doesn't make any sense, if I'm the only one they took.
[ Korosensei would come save him, he's confident in that. But he's also confident in himself, in his sensei's confidence in him that he can make it out just fine on his own ]
...No, it's better he's not here. He would've unmasked you all in less than a second.
[ me mentally lobbing him off at the knees like no, you can have those back in five years ]
Well, yeah. He's earned that faith time and time again.
[ thinking about it makes him half fond and half UGH at the same time ]
As far as monikers go, it makes sense that "Death" is weak. All you have to do is wait, and you'll meet everybody in the end. I wonder, out of the four of you, who's the strongest?
[ War? he keeps trying to visualize War and Yuffie keeps coming to mind instead ]
That's right. The cult started preparing for this ritual after we joined, not long ago. It's an organization bigger than your own crew, and obviously strong enough to nullify your powers with preparation. You don't take those down completely without planning—or if you're not careful, they're replaced by something more dangerous.
[...]
Still, maybe someone more absolutely powerful could have dealt with them. Pulled them out, roots and all, so they could never grow back. I can't deny that.
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Does he really want to pilfer a used toothbrush? In any case, it is a nice, clean, boring bathroom. He can wash his face if he likes. Waste more of Death's time if he feels like it. Whatever.]
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The fact that it's so ordinary in here is kind of unsettling in its own way, so he'll do his business, wash up, and carefully open the door just enough to peer out into the hallway. Is the coast clear... what's the rest of this building look like? ]
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Death is around, having been left to their own devices long enough that they're sitting and reading a book, cane propped off to the side. They glance up briefly.]
Sorry our accommodations are nicer. Perks of the job, I suppose.
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[ he leans over trying to read the cover, then at the pages. a language he recognizes? demonic scribbles? or is it a picture book ]
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They don't mind if Karma peeks along even if he's NOSY.]
Because many of your fellow sacrifices like getting themselves into trouble. [They're studying up on the hottest new remedies.]
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[ But not him. he's been a good boy. ]
You guys have got your work cut out for you, playing babysitter! And it'll be even harder all the way out here. Why don't you come hang out with everybody more? They're so skittish and untrusting, your presence would be reassuring.
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Yes, they're the ones who have been a handful.
I don't think that's true. What do you really want to happen?
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I'm serious. How do you expect to watch over people without being there? One of us might... do something untoward, without closer supervision.
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Oh, so you think people might lash out if we're not there? How immature.
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[Just putting that out there.]
Not that we bother to watch most of the time...
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You haven't seen a large yellow ...anything, have you?
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...Can you be more specific than 'anything'?
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He's a large, yellow... tentacled lifeform, who always wears a large grin on his face. Korosensei. The ones trying to kill him wore hooded white robes, just like yours.
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Oh. Interesting. [This is strange, but not completely mindblowingly unusual to them, apparently.] No, I think we would've noticed someone like that. Do you think cultists were the ones trying to kill him?
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Maybe. The robes and the flowers seem too much of a coincidence, but the strategy doesn't make any sense, if I'm the only one they took.
[ Korosensei would come save him, he's confident in that. But he's also confident in himself, in his sensei's confidence in him that he can make it out just fine on his own ]
...No, it's better he's not here. He would've unmasked you all in less than a second.
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It's a possibility. I've never been the best at fighting.
[I had to check but they're smaller than Karma, what is he kinda tall for??]
But I'm speaking as the weakest of the four of us. In any case, it sounds like you have a lot of faith in him.
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Well, yeah. He's earned that faith time and time again.
[ thinking about it makes him half fond and half UGH at the same time ]
As far as monikers go, it makes sense that "Death" is weak. All you have to do is wait, and you'll meet everybody in the end. I wonder, out of the four of you, who's the strongest?
[ War? he keeps trying to visualize War and Yuffie keeps coming to mind instead ]
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So someone can earn your favor after all. Good to know.
[They tap their fingers gently against one of the book pages.]
Well, that's not my business to divulge. The names are just covers. But you're not wrong about Death, I suppose.
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Anyways, I'm asking for an opinion, not statement of fact. You've been together for how long?
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I have my opinions. It's more that I don't want to encourage any of you to pick a fight.
But we've known each other for a handful of months now.
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[ look at him! sweet, innocent... ]
Several months is a long time. And you all let things get to this state? Damn.
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That's right. The cult started preparing for this ritual after we joined, not long ago. It's an organization bigger than your own crew, and obviously strong enough to nullify your powers with preparation. You don't take those down completely without planning—or if you're not careful, they're replaced by something more dangerous.
[...]
Still, maybe someone more absolutely powerful could have dealt with them. Pulled them out, roots and all, so they could never grow back. I can't deny that.
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Ugh. There's no use talking about what didn't happen. All we get is you, and all you get is us. All of this just for a wish? Stupid.
[ gestures at Death to get up ]
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Apologies you couldn't get someone more useful.
[It's said with a very lowkey wryness as Death puts their book back into their robes, using their cane as a support rail up onto their feet.]
At this point, my body is fairly broken. So I have some limitations. But feel free to use me as a resource however you can.
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RAT GRABS U
:pleading:
frowns loudly
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